True StoriesPG

Directed by David Byrne | USA | 1986 | 1h 29m | Starring David Byrne, John Goodman, Annie McEnroe, Swoosie Kurtz, Spalding Gray, Alix Elias

A group of quirky locals in a Reagan-era Texan town unite to organise a talent show to celebrate their state’s 150th anniversary. Directed and hosted by a cowboy-hatted David Byrne, the frontman of American post-punk band Talking Heads, True Stories draws inspiration from tabloid headlines to create a postmodern tribute to the extraordinary nature of everyday American life.

Join us for a Byrne’s Night special double-feature screening of True Stories alongside Jonathan Demme’s iconic Talking Heads concert film Stop Making Sense on Saturday 25th January. Click here to book your double-feature tickets.

Reviews

‘It’s a bold attempt to paint a bizarre American landscape. This movie does what some painters try to do: It recasts ordinary images into strange new shapes.’
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

‘An exuberant and wonderfully oddball stew of deadpan comedy, character drama, music video, and art installation.’
Jason Bailey, Fl

Sorry - you missed it!

We showed True Stories between January 25, 2025 and January 25, 2025.

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What else is on?

Today (Sunday 21st December)

17:00

It's a Wonderful Life U
2h 10m
The ultimate Christmas classic in which George Bailey discovers the true meaning of Christmas with a little help from his guardian angel.

Book here

20:00

Blue Moon 15
1h 40m
On 31 March 1943, lyricist Lorenz Hart drinks alone at Sardi’s as former collaborator Richard Rodgers basks in Oklahoma!’s triumph. While accolades flood in, Hart unravels with bittersweet candour. Ethan Hawke shines in Richard Linklater’s real-time meditation on art, regret, and legacy.

Book here


Tomorrow (Monday 22nd December)

18:00

Blue Moon 15
1h 40m
On 31 March 1943, lyricist Lorenz Hart drinks alone at Sardi’s as former collaborator Richard Rodgers basks in Oklahoma!’s triumph. While accolades flood in, Hart unravels with bittersweet candour. Ethan Hawke shines in Richard Linklater’s real-time meditation on art, regret, and legacy.

Book here

20:30

It Was Just an Accident 12A
1h 44m | Persian w/ English subtitles
Azerbaijani mechanic Vahid suspects a customer is his former Iranian torturer. After years of censorship and a recent spell in jail, celebrated Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi returns with a thrilling tale of obsession, paranoia, and vengeance. Winner of the Palme d’Or at Cannes.

Book here


Plan your visit

Our beautiful art deco inspired auditorium can be found just off East Oxford's Cowley Road.We are open 7 days a week. We open the cinema and box office 30 minutes before the scheduled start time of each film, and the Box Office then closes 10 minutes after the film starts. We only show a few adverts – less than most cinemas – and we only play a couple of trailers, so please don’t be late as the film itself starts very close to the advertised time!